Bulletin #16

NAATS negotiating team is meeting in Washington, DC for the period of time from June 30th through July 29th. The focus of the discussion between management and the union is the Union 2-pay proposal. This has been available to bargaining unit members on the NAATS Web site for several weeks. All of the input we have received from the field has been valuable and helpful in developing our strategy and course of action.

You all know, when in the middle of a negotiation session, it is nearly impossible to share with the world in writing what is on the table or how the other team responded to our proposal. Also you are anxious to know what is being discussed daily and what is the likely outcome to be expected based on the above. What I can share with you is that the teams are engaged in meaningful dialog on a number of substantially meaningful topics that have the potential to make some significant changes within our present compensation system.

You will recall that in our bargaining unit, we have approximately equal numbers of employees who have shared with NAATS leadership their feelings relative to change. They either want to see some sweeping changes, such as a five-tiered classification system, or just the opposite, the General Schedule system as it looks today, just with a different name. The negotiations as they have unfolded could end up going either of those ways or hybrid that moves both groups a little. That is less change than some may have wanted but more than others did.

At this time it is still to early to project what the management and union team may agree to before leaving on the 29th. Wally Pike and the entire negotiating team has been willing to explore any realistic proposal the management team has wanted to discuss. The management team seems to be primarily interested in generating cost savings based on "efficiencies" derived from the bargaining unit. They do not seem to have looked at cost avoidance as having the potential to generate significant savings. As mentioned earlier we still have a great deal of discussion to engage in before revising what is on the table into an agreeable compensation package.

I know this lack of anything more clear or concise is troubling to many of you, but as before the NAATS negotiating team respectfully asks for your patience and support in our efforts to get the best deal possible for all of our members. I will try and deliver to you, ASAP at the conclusion of this session, more information for your consideration and input.

Thanks for staying tuned.